Cops get life for 'unspeakable' mob crimes

Two former New York cops have been sentenced to life in prison in a sordid tale of murder, attempted murder, blackmail, drug trafficking, money laundering and passing information onto a local mafia family, prosecutors said.

AFP - Two former New York cops were sentenced to life in prison Friday for murder, attempted murder, blackmail, drug trafficking, money laundering and for passing information on to a local mafia family, prosecutors said.

Stephen Caracappa, 67, and Luis Eppolito, 60, have no possibility of early release, Judge Jack Weinstein told a federal court in the borough of Brooklyn, three years after the pair were first convicted.

The two men were first tried in 2006 and convicted of crimes committed over decades, even while they were in the New York Police force, that included taking part directly or indirectly in eight murders, two attempted murders and one premeditated murder.

They were also found guilty of money laundering and of regularly passing on confidencial police information to the Lucchese crime family, one of New York's top mafias.

However, because the blackmail charges had exceeded the statute of limitations all the chages were dropped, forcing the government to file an appeal and request a new trial that was held in September.

"The sentences imposed today bring some measure of closure for the families of the victims of these defendants’ unspeakable crimes and for the citizens of the city, whose trust these men betrayed," US Attorney Benton Campbell said after sentencing.

"We are gratified that the defendants will spend the rest of their lives behind bars."